ARTICLE 18 - Political Leave

18:01 Upon receipt of a written request, the Dean may grant political leave of absence for campaign purposes in accordance with this Article 18 to any member who intends to become a candidate for elected public office in Canada. The parties recognize, however, the responsibility of the University for ensuring the uninterrupted continuation and quality of program(s) of the University in which members are involved and, in the light of this responsibility, leave under this Article 18 shall not be withheld unreasonably.

18:02 A member applying for leave under this Article 18 shall give reasonable notice of her/his intention to stand for election to public office to permit the engagement, as required, of competent substitute(s).

18:03 A leave of absence under clause 18:01 shall not exceed the period of issuance of Writ of Election to election day, or a period of thirty (30) days in case of a municipal election.

18:04 A member on leave under clause 18:01 retains her/his status in the University and such leave shall be with full salary and all other rights, privileges and benefits subject to the obligation of the member to cooperate with her/his substitute(s), if any, as may be necessary and to reimburse the University for the cost of any substitute(s), if any, under clause 18:01, but the reimbursement shall not exceed the salary of the member during the period of leave.

18:05 If a member is elected to public office in Canada, she/he shall be entitled to a political leave of absence on the following basis:

(a) Parliament - up to a maximum of five (5) years without salary and fringe benefits;

(b) Legislature - up to a maximum of five (5) years without salary and fringe benefits;

(c) Other Elected Office - absence for fulfilment of recognized duties of office, but where such absence for the purpose of fulfilment of the recognized duties of office is of such a nature as to interfere with the duties and responsibilities of the member to the University, the Dean may make a pro rata adjustment of her/his salary.

A member on leave under clause 18:05 (a) or (b) shall be entitled at her/his sole expense to participate in any or all of the University's fringe benefit Plans for members from time to time in force if and so long as such plans permit.

18:06 In the case of political leave of absence under clause 18:05 (a) or (b), the member shall be entitled to terminate her/his leave and return to the University at the beginning of any academic year or at the beginning of any semester in AAUs of semesterized courses, if notice of her/his return is given to the Dean one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the intended date of return.

18:07 If a member continues to serve in elected public office under clause 18:05 (a) or (b) after the period of five (5) years, her/his employment shall terminate forthwith.

18:08 If a member continues to serve in elected public office under clause 18:05 (c) after a period of six (6) years, her/his employment shall terminate forthwith if the elected public office which she/he has held during the said six (6) year period has been that of the Mayor and/or Councillor of the Corporation of the City of Windsor, or any other elected office in the said City or any other municipal entity where the responsible fulfilment of the duties of that office would require a commitment of time approximately equal to or greater than the average time spent by the Councillor of the said City. The President may, however, on the request of the member, give written permission for a further period of leave under clause 18:05 (c) subject to the conditions of clause 18:05 (c).

18:09 The provision of this Article 18 shall not preclude the making of alternate arrangements acceptable to the member and Dean. The Dean shall give particulars of such arrangements to the Association.